Go Big or Go Home...

Today I had a FUN DAY with Mary. We met up at Express Bus, got a quick breakfast at McDonalds (yummmmmmmm pancake stack), melted hearts over glittery Christmas cards, and then started the REAL shopping. Express Bus is underground shopping at its finest and you can find way too much stuff for way too good a price. And...perhaps influence by Mary and her cute Cali style...I bought skinny jeans. 3 pair. B/c you know what? I'm skinny. I don't know what I feel the need to hide this fact, but I've lost weight darn it and I'm proud.

I felt so elated about the day's accomplishments that by the time I got back to Yeoksam, I decided to get a haircut. I drew a picture of what I didn't want (thick, helmet head hair) and a smiley face of what I did want (layers). In the end, the hairdresser and I had to look up pics on the internet and I lost like 3 more inches than I had planned. But go big or go home, right?

Sorry kids, fun time is over!

So, about a month and a half ago, the kids' lunchtime changed from eating and then going to the Big Room to play and watch movies with all the other kids to eating and then staying in the classroom. This was done to prevent the spread of the flu and originally was only supposed to last a few weeks. As teachers, we are supposed to make worksheets for them to do during this time. Usually, I give them a few to color and some puzzle pages, because, I figure, it's lunchtime, I want them to enjoy it!
Today, my supervisor said, I'll be giving them worksheets during lunch, so don't make any for today. In fact, I had spent much of my previous evening finding activity sheets about Christmas and also the rainforest (our theme this week), and had come to work early to copy these worksheets before all the other teachers started using the copiers, but oh well.
Apparently, the classroom-lunchtime will be continuing indefinitely, and my supervisor is tired of them coloring. "They are 7 year threes; this is a really important time for them," she says (7 year 3s means they are 7 years old and this is their 3rd year at Kindergarten). So she is giving them grammar worksheets from now on. This means less work for me...but still, I was a little sad to see that "7 years old" = no more coloring.

the sticker booth phenomen

My friends in Korea have lately introduced to a very popular pasttime: the sticker booth.
You can find sticker booths EVERYWHERE! A stickerbooth shop usually has props and several different booths. These sticker booths are not like the little old timey photo booths though. Each booth is about the size of a very small room with enough space for...well, at least 4 people, cos that's how many we crowded in! The camera is in the middle of the wall. You insert your money, and then choose your backgrounds. Except it times you, so it's a mad frenzy to look through upteen number of backgrounds...first you choose a concept (cute, elegant, sexy, etc.) and under each concept is like 10 backgrounds to choose from. You get like 8 different poses, so you have a lot of backgrounds to choose very quickly. Sometimes the backgrounds are just like "sparkly," but sometimes they are more complicated, like a grand staircase, or a giant donut...then you have to pose within the background...
Then, it starts. And you have to (I mean, it's not a command, but if you're with friends, apparently, this is the way to go) do different poses for each one. Like, ok! let's do serious face this time. And let's be singers this time. And let's act like we're biting a donut this time (we had a donut background). And let's wear hats, and not wear hats, and switch hats. It's a fun frenzy.
After all the shots are complete, you rush over to a computer screen and start decorating. And it times you! First, you have to choose 4 poses from however many you did. SO, it times you for that. Then, of those four, you have to decorate them. And there are literally, hundreds of different ways to decorate, but it times you, so you have to move fast. Again, there are like 5 different concepts (borders, writing, glitter decorations, etc.) And under each concept is like 5 more pages of things. Each page has like 10 different decorations. SO, you are trying to find the best decoration really quickly. It is so crazy!
After that, you have to choose the print lay-out. Again, it times you, so if you don't make up your mind, then you might get 4 big ones instead of 8 small ones or whatever.
After you make it through this stressful time, you pick up your print out and take it to the assistant, who then laminates it for you. My favorite lamination is sparkly paper. Then you have to cut all the pics out, divvy them up, and go stick them somewhere!
It's a really good thing my friends are pros at this, b/c it takes me FOREVER to decide on one little corner decoration or what to write or whether to have a border or not. Our pics look so good only due to the fact that my friends know how to decorate.
Here is our latest sticker booth venture (the paper is kind of mottled b/c sparkly paper does not scan well):

Click here to read the full story on sticker booths.

Lotte World!

Last weekend, my friend Mary and I had the chance to go to Lotte World! Lotte World is the Disneyland of Seoul. There is a magic castle, a cute animal couple (Lotty & Lorry), and tons of cute rides. Lotte world is also exciting because it is indoors and outdoors! It's also fun for -- apparently, everyone! There are enough cute rides for little kids, places to have "lovely moments with your sweet heart" (according to the brochure) and Exciting Thrill Mania (also according to the brochure). At Lotte World, all the greeters greet you with a double wave: everyone is very happy there. I really enjoy seeing so many happy people Also, they have this deal called a magic pass, so for rides that are really popular, you can get your ticket stamped for a certain time, come back at that time and then you don't have to wait in line. It's very efficient! Another part of the Lotte experience is "ears" or some sort of decoration attached to a headband. I opted for sheep ears. I mean, who am I not to take part in this grand cultural experience?

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, it's a little late, but the sentiment is the same. Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends in America!

From Life at LCI

Sorry Snails

R.I.P. to HappyKatieSuzie and Sausage. You were good classroom pets. Sorry I left you on the windowsill two weekends in a row and the day it snowed. I hope you find lots of lettuce leaves in your resting place.